The Kabuki of Gun Control

“Kabuki… Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers… Kabuki is a term used by American political pundits as a synonym for political posturing” – Wikipedia

Another day, another anti-gun screed. Or – as was the case on 29 March – two, when The Signal published a letter by Richard Myers entitled “No fear of guns” and a column by Anthony Breznican entitled “Stop saying that Parkland students are fakes, actors”.

Myers’s letter was a reaction to my column of March 15 (“The Second Amendment and the Militia”) in which I outlined the legal and historical context of gun rights. He didn’t even try to dispute any of the facts in my column, he simply indulged in an emotional outburst echoing the standard anti-gun talking points.

“As for your claim that we need a present day unorganized militia in the event our government becomes tyrannical, I can only say—baloney”, he rants. Well, okay. I’m probably not going to get a flat tire, either, but I still keep a spare in my trunk. Better to have a spare tire – or a gun – and not need it, than to need one and not have it.

Breznican’s column is allegedly a rebuttal of one by Ron Bischof that was published on 22 March as “Talking about school safety”. Breznican writes: “…writer Ron Bischof suggests a conspiracy theory…”.

But in reality Ron does no such thing. What he actually says is: “Isn’t it rational to conclude they’re being orchestrated by media producers and other organizations with political objectives?”

After all, if the news media is truly objective, as Breznican suggests when he writes: “When those individuals don’t wish to be interviewed, it’s important and ethical to respect that. When they actually do want to talk, it’s vital to listen”, then why haven’t the major news media been giving any attention at all to the many Parkland survivors who hold views opposing those being expressed by the kids whose faces are plastered all over the place while screeching for gun confiscation?

That’s not a “conspiracy”. It’s political Kabuki. The fact is that according to a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll taken after the shooting (Link) fewer than half of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 think more gun laws would prevent mass shootings. But we don’t hear much of anything about them.

That’s because the worker bees of the major media are, by a very large margin, living their lives in the left-wing echo chamber. Antipathy to gun rights is in their nature and their culture, so their natural inclination is to seek out and publicize those who agree with, and validate, their own prejudices and agenda. It’s so ingrained that it doesn’t need a “conspiracy”; the script is already well-rehearsed.

Political Kabuki.

As to Breznican’s various other claims about the Supreme Court Heller decision and how Congress should act and all of that, it’s interesting to note that retired (thankfully) Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens wrote an op-ed column published in the 27 March edition of the New York Times in which he calls for the repeal of the Second Amendment.

Though I vehemently oppose such a repeal, and think it has absolutely zero chance of actually happening – just look at any map and tell me where enough states would approve such a thing – I do think his column does something important.

It’s one of the very rare instances when an anti-gunner proposes substantive changes to gun laws in a way that actually conforms to the Constitution. And it puts the lie to the constant refrain of “We support your right to own a gun, BUT…”.

Yeah, funny how that works. When we had the Rodney King Riots, hordes of lefties flooded local gun shops trying to buy guns, and were absolutely OUTRAGED when they were told about the mandatory waiting period.

I think any elected official that takes an oath to protect the Constitution and then introduces legislation to take away from any of our Amendments should be immediately arrested and tried for treason and perjury.

On Thu, Apr 5, 2018 at 10:26 AM, The View from the Island wrote:

> BrianR commented: “Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, funny how that works. > When we had the Rodney King Riots, hordes of lefties flooded local gun > shops trying to buy guns, and were absolutely OUTRAGED when they were told > about the mandatory waiting period. Talk about schad” >

>>”It’s so ingrained that it doesn’t need a “conspiracy”; the script is already well-rehearsed.”

Very well put, Brian. The sheep don’t convene a meeting to secretly agree to act like sheep. Their shared mentality ensures that they’ll know what to do. Should a sheep have the audacity to stray, there are plenty of dogs with sharp teeth to bark it back into line.

I totally agree with you on Stevens’ call to end the Second Amendment. That solution is there any time the gun banning folks truly have the will of the people on their side, as they always claim. The fact that they perpetually try to undermine the Second Amendment by more surreptitious means reveals the truth of the situation.

The lines are being drawn by both sides. But the problem for the Left is, “Who bells the cat and goes out to collect the weapons from the Right?” The Revolutionary War started at Lexington and Concord because those in charge (i.e., the British government) decided that the people did NOT need any weapons.

Frankly, it boils down to one thing. The Left has decided that the Right is a “paper tiger” and will turn in their weapons as soon as the US Government says they must. Or, if the Right doesn’t turn in their weapons then the armed portions of the US government (who now number more than the US Marines) will be able to collect them. And perhaps in the democrat controlled large cities they might be able to do so. But what about rural America?

Even in the blue urban areas it won’t be as easy as the socialists think. The top cops in the command structure may very well be fellow socialists, and often are, as they’re appointed by socialist city councils or mayors or what have you. That’s the way it is with the LAPD, for example.

But the street cops, who are the guys who would actually be the ones executing any action, are by a large margin fellow conservatives. Are they going to take action just on the say-so of some brass hat they probably hold in contempt to begin with, to carry out illegal orders?

BB, It is hard, very hard to get a grip on the fact there are people petitioning the government to revoke their rights. How eye opening towards our ‘education system’. I’m afraid that, in the end, this mass anti-rights movement will become the catalyst of the next civil war in this country. For far too long Americans paying attention have only raised eyebrows and pointed fingers at the communist infiltration into our education, our government and our courts and now we are faced with a generation that has not only been ‘dumbed down’ but has no morals and no ability to think rationally. What we have neglected for far too long is going to be our most challenging obstacle. We have to overcome. We have to overcome.

I think Conservatives are going to learn that the govt. does not exist to guarantee your God-given rights, the police/military are not heroic public-servants, and that the Constitution cannot & will not save you.